The Journey Back to Fitness: Overcoming Sickness Through Exercise

Returning to exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s often the most effective way to regain strength and energy. This was clearly demonstrated in a recent fitness livestream where the participant shared their personal journey of getting back to working out after being sick for several days.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they explained. “Not exercising did not help me at all, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me because of lack of exercise.”

The Struggle is Real

One of the most relatable observations shared during the workout was about the imbalance of effort when it comes to fitness: “It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight.”

This honest assessment resonates with many who struggle with fitness consistency. The key, according to the livestream, is mental discipline: “All you need to do is to push your body. Force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move.”

Signs of Recovery

The progress made during just one session was remarkable. “I’m doing fine today but I’m here today because the energy is coming back!” they shared enthusiastically. “No more lying down, no more sickness, no more headache! Yesterday I could not sustain jogging for 5 minutes!”

As the workout continued, physical changes became evident: “I was cold, but now I’m sweating,” indicating the body was responding positively to the activity.

The Importance of Consistency

An important message conveyed during the stream was that fitness doesn’t require professional-level intensity: “Your health is what you can achieve! We must not be professional. You must not lift 100 pounds! Just start by lifting 10 pounds or 5 pounds. Just little by little, we are going to be fine!”

The workout featured jogging on what appeared to be a treadmill with various speed settings. The participant mentioned working their way back up to higher speeds: “I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12. 12 is the highest.”

Pushing Through Fatigue

Despite feeling tired during the session, determination prevailed: “I’m getting tired. But I still want to see how long I can go with the jogging.” Setting small goals helped maintain motivation: “We are almost at 200 calories. Good. I’m going to go for the next 10 minutes.”

By the end of the session, the improvement was clear: “My energy level is coming back.”

Takeaway

This fitness journey demonstrates the importance of getting back to exercise after illness, even if it means starting slow and building back up. The body responds quickly to resumed activity, and the mental benefits are just as valuable as the physical ones.

Remember, consistency trumps intensity when it comes to long-term fitness success. As this workout showed, even a short 20-minute session can make a significant difference in how you feel when recovering from illness.